Fire-escape.



Patented .sep-f. as, |9o2."

No. 709,374.- l W. H. TAYLOR.

' FIRE4 EscAPE.

' (Application led Mar. 1, 1902.)

' (No uml.)

n i l UNITED A STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM II. TAYLoaoIt KEWANEE, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,374, dated September 16, 1902.

l Application iiled March 1,1902. Serial No. 96,306. (No model.)

T @ZZ wtcnt it 77mg] concert/t:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. TAYLOR, 'a citizen `of the United States, residing at Kewanee, in the countyof Henry and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Fire- Escape, of Whiehthe following is `a specification. I i

This invention relates to devices adapted to be'employed by Vpersons in escaping from burning buildings and 'other similar localities, 'and has for its object the production of preferably `of cylindrical form, and adaptedV a portable device which maybe readily carried by travelers in a valise or trunk,`together Ld L with theiother goods, and 'which can be easily L I and quickly arranged `for use or Which may be attached permanently in rooms adjacent to lWindows or other apertures and be at all times in condition for instant use.

` The device is so constructed that it may be entirely inelosed in a small compact casing,

d to be carried in avalise or trunk, together L L closure beingin longitudinal section.

with other travelingappurtenances, or to be L 1 i suspendedgpermanently in rooms adjacentto L. i i posed, and for the purpose of illustration I a window or other aperture or otherwise dishave shownV it in the' drawings in Figure `l thus disposed in `a cylindrical closure, the Fig. 2 `represents'the brake member, body-sustainingmember,and a portion of the supportingu cable in perspective.

The casing or closure is shown at `5, with d l" one end 6` closed and preferably with aflanged L tion 8, preferably hollowto reduce the Weight,

L formed Lat one end with a head A8a, having L flanges or projections 9 and 10 on opposite cover 7, engaging the openend, as shown.

L The brake` member consists ofa drum porsides of the drum, the said flanges being per,`

L pendicular `to the axis of the drum, as shown` The `liange 10 isprovidedwith two apertures 1l and 12, adapted tosupport the ends `13 and 14 of a loop 115 of rope, webbing, or other suitable material, theloopbeing long enough to afford adequate support to 'the-person who is toemploy the device. L This loop is shown in L the drawings with a portion cut away; but it will be understood, of course, that the loop may be o f any lengthorof anyform and with transverse supports, if required, or a basket belt, slinging harness, or other suitable sustaining means may be substituted for the loop, if preferred. Allof these different sustaining means being in commonuse in lireescapes do not require further-illustration, as they are all well-known equivalentsfor the loop, as shown. The ange 10 is also pro- ,vided with a central. aperture 16, extended by a tubular projection 16 to increase itflongitudinallyand disposed substantially parallel with the axis of the drum. The liange 9 is likewise provided with a `central aperture 17, the ange being preferably twisted or turned at an angle to theaxialfline of the drum S and with its edges rounded to assist in guidingthe cable to prevent either undue strains or crimping action on `the cable. At the opposite sides of the drum 8 are arranged guide-loops 18 and 19, as shown.`

The sustaining-cable is represented at 2O With'a loop 2l or other means upon its upper end to provide for attaching it to a permanent support, such as a hook in the ceiling or window frame or sill, or to some suitable piece ot furniture or other article and will L be of any suitable length to enable the user to reach the ground. The cable is conducted first through the eye 17, thence around the drum 8 several times and beneath the loops 18 and 19 atLeach turn', and thence through the tubular aperture 16 16, The brake member thus exerts a tension upon the cable to retard or check the movement of the oecupant of the sustaining member or to support them in a stationary position, if required.

When not in use, the surplus length of cad A ble `will be wound around a reel 20, as shown in Fig. l,and the loop or carrier 15 coiled up and the whole inserted into the casing, as shown inliig. 1. In this condition the Whole device will be embraced Within avery small compass for convenience of transportation, as before stated. The reel is formed with two ilanges 20 and 2Oh on its ends, theLflange 20n conforming somewhat closely to the interior of the body 5 of the casing, so as to nearly fill it. This forms a support to the coils of the cable and enables them to be re- IOO large flange 20a inward, so that when the de- 'viee is to be used the brake and loop members may be removed without necessarily disturbing the drum and the cable. When the device is to be used, the loop and brake memthe reel and any tendency to tangle therebyobviated. In this connection the importance of the large iiange 20a becomes apparent, as it is of the first importance to secure the free unchecked uncoiling vof the 'cable that the coils shall be preserved fintact, and this, as before stated, is efciently accomplished by means` of the larger flange 20a. The operator then enters the loop 15 or'other sustaining means and lowers himself from the Window or other opening, grasping the cable just below the brake-drum. The weight of the 0ccupant of the sustaining means will cause a sufficien t strain upon the cable, where it passes through the apertures 16 and 17 and around the druml 8 and beneath the guardwires 18 and 19, to prevent the brake member from running down the cable, so that if left to itself the sustaining means would remain stationary. If, however, theoccupant of the loop .15 simply eases up upon the cable below thevaperture 16, the tension will be reduced sufliciently to permit the brake means to move down the cable as fastas the occupant may desire, the speed being under the complete control of the operator by means of his grasp upon the cable. Two turns of the cable 20 around the drum 8, as shown,

will generally be sufficient to cause the requisite tension; but a greater or lesser number Vofthe turns may be employed, as circumstances mayrequire. .g

Theloops 18 and 19 serve an important function, as they effectually guard thecable coiled upon the drum 8 and obviate all danger of the slippage of the coils from the free end of the drum.

This forms a very complete, cheap, and Y person who may require it andwhich will not require the exercise of any particular skill to adjust or operate it.

The brake member will generally be formed of malleable iron or other metal and may be nickel or silver plated, japanned, or otherwise ornamented and may be of any suitable size or material and may be modified in minor details without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having t-hus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A fire-escape comprising a'brake-drum having a head at one end, with anges 9, 10, respectively, above and below tne drum and perpendicular thereto, said flange 9 having an opening 17, and said flange 10 having an elongated opening 16, substantially parallel with the drum, in combination with a cable passed through the said openings and having one or more turns around the drum,substan tially as described.

2. A fire-escape comprising a brake-drum having a head at one end,`with flanges 9, lO, respectively, above and below the drum and perpendicular thereto, said flange 9 having an opening 17, and said' flange 10 having an elongated opening 16, substantially parallel with the drum,.in combination with a cable passed through the said openings and having one or more turns around the drum, and means depending from the flange 10, to sus` tain the user.

3. A fire-escape comprising a brake-drum having a longitudinal guide-loop on one side thereof, and having a head at one end with flanges, 9, 10, respectively above and below the drum and perpendicular thereto, said flange 9 having an opening 17and said fiange 10 having an elongated opening 16 substantially parallel with the drum, in combination with'a cable passed through the said openings and having'one or more turns around the drum, within the guide-loop thereof, substantially as described. l In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed mysignaturein the presence of two witnesses. Y

\ 4WILLIAM Il. TAYLOR. \Vituess' 'es:

' GEO. A. ANTHONY,

L. M. BUCHANAN. i 

